THE defender will miss almost all of Partick Thistle's promotion run-in, returning for the final game of the season against Dunfermline.

PARTICK THISTLE defender Aaron Muirhead has been suspended for an extra two games by the Scottish Football Association for headbutting Queen of the South's Chris Higgins in Sunday's Ramsdens Cup final.

Muirhead reacted after his penalty was saved in the final minutes of extra time in the match and the Queen of the South players celebrated in his face. He struck out at the Doonhamers captain and was shown a straight red, with the Dumfries club going on to win the ensuing penalty shoot-out.

The 22-year-old was found guilty of breaching rule 201 of the SFA's judicial panel protocol, and a tribunal which met at Hampden today handed down the additional ban.

Muirhead had already received an automatic two-match ban for the act of violent conduct which, on top of an outstanding one-game suspension, ruled him out of last night's Irn-Bru First Division win over Morton.

A statement on Thistle's official website read: "An SFA disciplinary hearing today handed Aaron Muirhead an additional two-game ban following his red card against Queen of the South.

"The offence came with an automatic two-game ban which he will serve against Airdrie United and Raith Rovers."

"He will, however, also now sit out the games with Falkirk and Dunfermline Athletic before returning for the final game of the season at Dumbarton."